Talking-machine



H. B. MILES. TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1918- 1,371,508, Patented Mar. 15; 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TALKING-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY BENDA MILES, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia, and a resident of Elwood, in the State of Victoria, Australia, and subject of the King, lieutenant Royal Australian Navy, have invented certain new and useful Im- Jrovements in and Connected with Talkingachines, of which the following is a'specication.

This invention has reference to improvements in means for reproducing sound in talking machines, particularly those of the disk type, and consists essentially in the employment upon one tone arm of two sound boxes or speakers and in mounting the same in such a way that the stylus of each box will repose in the same sound line and play on the same record simultaneously, the boxes meanwhile altering position relatively to the tone arm. My improved mounting may also be used on one sound box with good results.

The two sound boxes can be mounted upon the tone arm in various ways but it is of prime importance that the Same shall be so connected and Supported that a proper degree of flexibility of movement shall be possible for the boxes, as will be hereinafter explained.

One of the objects of my invention is to enhance the quality of the sounds reproduced and to reduce lateral friction between the styluses and the sound line as the tone arm and boxes move across the record.

Atthe present time most talking machines have a sound box lixed to the end of the tone arm through a flexible connection or oose neck, the stylus of the box being co ned mithin the sound line and traversing the record along an arc described by the tone arm. This does not conduce to best results in clarity of tone because the position of the box and attached stylus relatively to the groove in the record must needs change as the? box traverses the record., In other words, the sound box does not' maintain the ideal positions relatively to the sound line, which should be in a ine at right angles `with a line joining the 'center of the record and the stylus.

Attempts have been made to maintain such relative positions of the soundbox and sound line and in one case at least has been effected by altering the shape and construction of the tone arm, which however, I wish y to avoid, thereby making it possible to more Specification of Letters Patent.

.with its box substantially dualv speaker device,

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application led September 16, 1918. Serial No. 254,325.

easily adapt my dual speaking or reproducing means to existing machines.

In the reproduction of sound from most records, the stylus inclines upon the same at an angle of about 45: if the sound box is not maintained or approximately maintained 1n itscorrect tangential position with .the .sound line, the stylus will be caused to incline unduly to one side or other of the same which tends to destroy the record by wearing away the sound wave track and ultimately to distort the sound reproduced. I f this can be avoided and the stylus kept as much as possible fairly in the sound groove tangential therewith, the scratching sound common to these machines is reduced.

In this invention, I use two sound boxes which are mounted and connected to the tone arm 1n such a Way that the stylus of each shall be in the same sound line and preferably less than three uarters (i) of an inch apart. This is e ected by using sound boxes of a type in which the fulcrum of the stylus is mounted.on the front of the box frame with the diaphragme of the boxes facing each other.

ne way of mounting the boxes is by provldmg each with a rearwardly projecting sound pipe that fits telescopically into or on a tubular connection or goose neck .from the ,end of the tone arm which is capable of rotatory movement in the T or end piece of the arm. The boxes should be locked together 1n. order that when one is lifted the other w1ll be lifted with it, but each should be capable of a limited independent movement vertically.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one mode of supporting and operating my in whichy Flgure l is a side elevation ofthe two sound boxes connected up to the tone arm of a talking machine, and

2 is g plan view of same, the tone arm T-piece an connections being shown in section.

`The tone arm 3 is of the ordinary and well-known type, into the T-piece of which 1s fitted a liner 4 that is integral with one of the tubularextensions or goose necks. The other extension 5 lis provided with an integral liner piece 6 thatfits easily within the member 4. Attached to each sound box 7 is a short pi e 8 (hereinafter called the sound box pipe? that fits telescopically into f pendently of the tone arm 3, as the latter or on a tubular extension 5 which latter is curved or otherwise shaped between the tone arm and the boxes. The member 4 is ca pable of rotary movement in the said T-piece and member 6 can turn freely in 4.

In order to permit the inner or left hand sound box 7 to move in a vertical plane within certain limits independently of its fellow, the liner 4 of the extension 5 is slotted transversely as at 9 in which a stud 10 that is on the liner 6 comes the stud limiting the rotary movement of the extension 5 in liner 4 until same is lifted clear of the record when both boxes will be moved together, as when they are to be laid over upon the tone arm to change the needles.

The boxes should further be connected toether near to the tone arm T-piece and-in ine with the axis of the arm, through the brackets 11, one of which maybe on the right hand box extension 5 and the other on the left hand box,each bracket connecting loosel with the common hinge pin 12 on, a like bracket upon the other ox. The curve 'of the tubular extensions 5 and sound pipes 8 has a radius centered on this pin 12 about which the boxes will swing, indethe record and the boxes travel along the sound line. As the boxes alter their osition in relation to the tone arm axis t ey.wil1 .approximately maintain the correct tangential position with the sound line and thus keep each stylus fairly therein and without serious inclination sidewise.

The boxes 7 should be arranged to conver toward each other at thefront and eac is placed on .its mounting at an angle of about four (4) degrees with the axis of the tone arm, which has been found to give lgood results in practice. While it is not c aimed that with two sound boxes each pla 'ng a record simultaneously, the boxes wil traverse the ideal path, viz., the chord of the arc described by the tone arm, it is claimed that by means of my invention a fuller tone is made possible with a reduction in the scratching sound.

It isv important when using the dual speaker device to insure that both boxes can be lifted off or laced upon the record at the same time. his` movement is effected throuA h the extensions 5 and their easy and exib e connection in the T-piece of the arm 3. A further facility of movement of the boxes when following the sound line is moves over imparted through the4 brackets 11, hinge pin/connecting both sound boxes and .t

12 and the telescoping connections,` which movement .will be toward or away from thetone arm axis; At the same time a limited independent vertical movement of the boxes is permitted. 0 y' l y I hav-eem hasmed the importance of placiig the sty 1 'less than three quarters (i) o an' inch apart: this is essential to 'avoid echo but in some re reductions such as band pieces, a wider istance between the needles is not a disadvantage.

Instead of the two se arate sound boxes as I have described, a rame carryin two diaphragme and Styli can be emp oyed, but this system is not so satisfactory as there is no flexibility between the mountingsof the two diaphragme, and the styli"can not follow the sound line correctly if the surface of the record is distorted or warped to any degree.

It will be evident .that if one sound box is used with its extension 8 telescopingwith the longer tubular extension or goose neck 5 and a bracket 11 is on the goose neck hingin with the bracket 11 on the box throng the pin 12, the position of the box relatively to the tone arm will alter as it moves across the record. The box will, by means of its flexible connections with the tone arm, be enabled substantially to adapt itself to its correct tangential position with the sound line as the record is played and thereby to keep its stylus properly inthe groove.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a talking machine having a tone arm and records provided with sound grooves, the combination of two sound boxes in ivotal relation to each other and attache to the tone arm, and styli on the two sound boxes, said styli and the sound boxes being adapted to move with the tone arm and to move simultaneously across the record in the same sound groove of the record.

2. In a talking -machine having a tone r arm, the combination of two sound boxes flexibly associated with the tone arm, both of said sound boxes being movable about a common axis at right anglesto the lon 'tu- 4dinal axis of the tone arm, the planes o the sound boxes being inclined to each other, and means connecting the two'sound boxes for moving each box upon movement of the other box.

3. In.a talking machine having a tone arm, the combination of two soundv boxes, each sopnd box being provided with a tubular extension and each of the extensions being movably supported in said tone' arm, the extensions being in telescopic relation to each other and being in communication with thed tubular tone, arm, and mea' ntertubular tone arm, said last named means being located outside the tone arm.

4. In a talking machine, the combination with the tone arm of two sound boxes, af'tubular telescoping connection btweeneach box and-the arm iexibly attached to the arm and a common pivotal connection between the boxes and the arm in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the tone arm and at an angle to said axis.

5. In atalking machine having a tone arm, the combination of two sound boxes, tubular extensions on said sound boxes, the tone arm having a transverse tubular T-portion in which both extensions are telescopingly supported, and means on said tubular extensions for preventing unlimited independent movement of said sound boxes about' the axis of said T-portion.

6. In a talking machine having a tone arm, the combination of two sound boxes, tubular extensions on the sound boxes, the tone arm having a transverse tubular T-portion in which both extensions are telescopingly supported so as to berotatable about the axis of said T-portion, and a pivotal support for both of said 'sound boxes, said support being disposed at an angle to the axis of the T-portlon.

7. In a talking machine the combination of a tone arm, a sound box, a tubular telescoping connection between the box and the tone arm flexibly attached thereto 4and a hingeable attachment between the box and the arm in line with the longitudinal axis thereof.

8. In a talking .machine the combination of a tone arm, a sound box, a short curved tubular sound pi e attached to and extendin rearwardly rom the box, a goose neck te escoping with said short pipe and flexibly attached to the tone arm, brackets on the goose neck and sound box and a hinge pin 1n the brackets in line with the tone arm longitudinal axis.

9. In a talking machine having a tone arm, the combination of two sound boxes, styli connected with said sound boxes and Vhaving their free ends close together, and

telescopic extensions connected to each box and in telescoping relation with each other, one of said extensions having a slot and the other extension ,having a pin taking into the slot and movable therein.

10. In a talking machine, the combination with the tone arm of two sound boxes, tubular telescopic connections between each box and the arm and Hexibly mounted the one within the other in the T-piece of the arm, a short slot in one connection, a pin in the other taking into the slot, a rearwardly disposed bracket on each sound box, a bracket on one of the tubular connections and a pin in line with the longitudinal axis of the tone arm and'at an angle to said axis connecting all three brackets together, as specified.

In testimonyI whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY B. MILES. Witnesses P. M. NEWTON, K. SHEEHY. 

